Wire reel apparatus

ABSTRACT

A wire reel apparatus has a cylinder core member whose axial bore conforms to standard diameter spool sizes of commercial letoff machines. A first side member is secured at one end of the core member and is formed from a plurality of spaced radial wire frames. A plurality of support members are secured between the other end of the core member and the first side member, and include an axial portion lying in a concentric plane to the axis of the core member to provide a supporting surface for the coils of wire. A detachable second side member is formed of a plurality of spaced radial frame members and is secured in abutting relation with the radial portion of the tie members by means of a pair of clamping devices.

United States Patent 1 Cassel et al.

[54] WIRE REEL APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Carlis E. Cassel, Niles; RobertF.

Currier, Jackson, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: National-Standard Company, Niles,

Mich.

[22] Filed: June 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.1 258,985

[52] US. Cl ..242/l29, 242/77.2

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1926 Kelley ..242/86.4 3/1970 Gildart ..242/l29X1 3,731,888 1 May8, 1973 Primary Examiner-Leonard D. ChristianAttorney-john A. Dienner et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A wire reel apparatus has a cylinder core member whoseaxial bore conforms to standard diameter spool sizes of commercialletoff machines. A first side member is secured at one end of the coremember and is formed from a plurality of spaced radial wire frames. Aplurality of support members are secured between the other end of thecore member and the first side member, and include an axial portionlying in a concentric plane to the axis of the core member to provide asupporting surface for the coils of wire. A detachable second sidemember is. formed of a plurality of spaced radial frame members and issecured in abutting relation with the radial portion of the tie membersby means of a pair of clamping devices.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENT MAY' 8I975 SHEET 1 OF 2 PATENIEU W81815 sum 2 OF 2 ing surface.

WIRE REEL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto reels, and in particular to wire frame reels which may be manuallyassembled after a wire coil package is placed on the wire support-Thisinvention is directed to a wire reel apparatus that handles a wirecoil package having a wire core frame constructed from lengths of wireshaped into the desired configuration to support multiple loops ofstranded wire. The present commercial reel apparatus for accommodatingsuch wire coil packages are quite cumbersome to use since they requirethe manipulation of several parts and these commercial reel apparatusgenerally have small mounting shafts which do not fit standard sizespools of commercial letoff machines.

This invention provides a unique but simple design for assembling thewire coil packages and uses a standard size cylindrical bore of a sizesuitable for mounting on a commercial spool letoff machine. Also thisinvention is an improvement over art devices in that it is relativelyinexpensive tof manufacture and quite reliable in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A'wire reel apparatus embodying the principlesof this invention is designed to receive a wire coil package andincludes a central core member having a cylindri-' cal bore with adiameter adapted to fit standard size spool letoff machines. A firstside member is secured at one end of the core member and is formed froma plurality of spaced radial wire frames. A plurality of support membersare secured between the other end of the core member and the first sidemember, and include an axial portion lying in a concentric plane to theaxis of the core member to provide a supporting surface for the coils ofwire. A detachable second side member is formed of a plurality of spacedradial frame members and is secured in abutting relation with the radialportion of the tie members by means of a pair of clamping devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this inventionreference may be made to the accompanying drawings,

DESCRIPTION O X PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, a wirereel apparatus incorporating the principles of this invention andgenerally designated bytthe reference numeral .10 is illustrated priorto the assembly of a wire coil package 12. The

wire coil package 12 has a wire frame construction formed from a lengthof wire to provide axially spaced apart side portions 14 and a coreportion 16, and multilayers of coils 18 are wound thereon. The wire coilpackage forms no part of this invention and is shown to give a betterunderstanding of this invention.

The wire reel apparatus 10 is formed with a central core member 20having an inner cylindrical bore 22 of a diameter adapted to fitstandard. size letoff machines. Secured to one end of core member 20 isa side member 24 formed from a plurality of elongated closed-loop wireforms 26 securedtogether in a crisscross arrangement. The center squareopening 28 of the side member 24 is made large enough to fit over theend of the core member 20 and is secured, as by welding, to the outerperipheral surface of the core member at the four points of contact 30.

A plurality of support members 32 is secured between the side member 24and the other end of the core member 20 to provide a supporting surfacefor the wire coil package 12. Each of the supporting members 32 isformed from a U-shaped wire form which is bent at approximately a 90degree angle intermediate its ends to present a radial portion 34 andaxial portion 36.

The bight portion 38 is secured to the outer peripheral surface of thecore member 20, as by welding, and the outer ends of its two arms aresecured to the two parallel leg portions 40 of the oval-shaped wire form26 as by welding.

The second side member 44 of the wire reel apparatus 10 is likewiseformed from a plurality of elongated closed-loop wire forms 46 securedtogether 'as by welding in a criss-cross arrangement where thesquareshaped center opening 48 is large enough to fit over the end ofthe core member 20. Near each end of the wire form 46 there is provideda ramp portion 50, which inter fits with the axial portion 36 of thesupport members 32 to prevent the wire from slipping between the supportmembers 32-and the side member 44.

The side member 44 is fastened to the supporting members 32 by means ofdiametrically opposed novel clamp units 60 each comprising a T-shapedclamping bolt 62 secured on two diagonally opposite supporting members32 at the intersections of their radial and axial portions. EachT-shaped clamping bolt 62 includes an outwardly extending threaded rodportion 64 which extends through the U-shaped slots 66 of the clampingbrackets 68 mounted on diagonally opposite ends of one of theoval-shaped wires 46.

To assemble the wire reel apparatus, the wire coil package 12 is slidover the radial portion 36 of the tie members 32 and the side member 44is then placed on the outer end of the core member 20. Finally wing nuts70 are screwed onto the threaded rod portions 64.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown the wire reel apparatus 10 ofthis invention mounted on a letoff I machine 74 which could be of any ofa number of commercially available type constructions. The frame 76 forletoff machine 74 includes an upright column member 78 on which reelshaft 80 is supported horizontally at its upper end. A hub 82 isrotatably mounted on shaft 80 by bearings 84 and has a flange 86 fixedon its inner end.

The diameter of cylindrical bore 22 is slightly larger than the outerdiameter of hub 82 and is placed on hub 82. Pin 88 by engaging wire form26 retards rotation of the spool. Knurled nut 90 retains hub 20 in axialposition.

Letoff machine 74 has a frictional drag device 92 imposing a constantdrag on hub 82 and comprises cap screw 94 threaded into shaft 80, washer96, spring washer 98 and keyed washer 100 connected together in cavity102. By tightening cap screw 94, spring washer 98 exerts a greater forceon keyed washer 100 which bears tighter against flanged bearing 84.

Furthermore, this invention is not limited for use with the particularwire coil package 12, and is quite suitable with other coil packages,such as a standard cardboard core package which is strapped duringshipping the straps being removed once the package is on the wire reelapparatus.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be understood that various modifications andrearrangements may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. Wire reel apparatus comprising a cylindrical core member having acylindrical bore adapted to fit standard-sized spool letoffs, a firstside member secured to one end of said core member having a plurality ofspaced radial wire frames, a plurality of supporting members having aradial portion secured to said core member at its other end and havingan axial portion on a concentric plane to said cylindrical bore securedto said wire frames to define a supporting surface for coils of wire, asecond side member having a plurality of spaced radial wire frames, andclamping means for fastening said second side member to said supportingmembers in abutting relation with said radial portion,

2. A wire reel apparatus as defined in claim I, wherein said pluralityof spaced radial wire frames of said first side member comprises aplurality of elongated closed-loop wires secured together in acrisscross arrangement and wherein said plurality of supporting memberscomprises a plurality of U-shaped wire forms each having their bightportion secured to said core member and having the outer end portions oftheir arms bent at a ninety-degree angle and secured to the parallellegs of said closed-loop wires adjacent one of their curved ends.

3. A wire reel apparatus as defined in claim 2,

wherein said plurality of spaced radial wire frames of said second sidemember comprises a plurality of elongated closed-loop wires securedtogether in a crisscross arrangement, a ramp formed in a transverseaxial direction in both of parallel legs adjacent both of their curvedends to fit in alignment with said radial portions of said supportingmembers, and wherein said clamping means comprises a pair of clampingbolt brackets mounted on said radial portion of said supporting membersand a pair of complementary clamping bolt receiving brackets mounted onsaid wire frames of said second side member.

1. Wire reel apparatus comprising a cylindrical core member having acylindrical bore adapted to fit standard-sized spool letoffs, a firstside member secured to one end of said core member having a plurality ofspaced radial wire frames, a plurality of supporting members having aradial portion secured to said core member at its other end and havingan axial portion on a concentric plane to said cylindrical bore securedto said wire frames to define a supporting surface for coils of wire, asecond side member having a plurality of spaced radial wire frames, andclamping means for fastening said second side member to said supportingmembers in abutting relation with said radial portion.
 2. A wire reelapparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of spaced radialwire frames of said first side member comprises a plurality of elongatedclosed-loop wires secured together in a criss-cross arrangement andwherein said plurality of supporting members comprises a plurality ofU-shaped wire forms each having their bight portion secured to said coremember and having the outer end portions of their arms bent at aninety-degree angle and secured to the parallel legs of said closed-loopwires adjacent one of their curved ends.
 3. A wire reel apparatus asdefined in claim 2, wherein said plurality of spaced radial wire framesof said second side member comprises a plurality of elongatedclosed-loop wires secured together in a criss-cross arrangement, a rampformed in a transverse axial direction in both of parallel legs adjacentboth of their curved ends to fit in alignment with said radial portionsof said supporting members, and wherein said clamping means comprises apair of clamping bolt brackets mounted on said radial portion of saidsupporting members and a pair of complementary clamping bolt receivingbrackets mounted on said wire frames of said second side member.